Ward quiets Gators, jabs fans in big Miami debut

Andrea Adelson, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterAug 31, 2024, 09:47 PM ET

Close

• ACC press reporter.
• Joined ESPN.com in 2010.
• Graduate of the University of Florida.GAINESVILLE, Fla.– Quarterback

Cam Ward made his method toward the Miami tunnel, green-and-orange clad Hurricanes fans yelling to get his attention.Coach Mario Cristobal stopped him, then directed him to a big contingent who were hollering behind their bench the whole game so Ward might wave and high-five. Nobody might blame the Hurricanes for remaining on the field postgame or for Cristobal desiring his players to salute the fans. This win implied simply a little bit more, on the roadway, against an in-state competitor, in an arena where Miami last won 22 years ago.Ward was easily the biggest difference-maker in a dominant 41-17 win over Florida on Saturday, a statement that all the

buzz surrounding the Hurricanes over the previous nine months was well-deserved. By the 3rd quarter, chants of”Let’s Go Canes”could be heard in the Swamp.”Some recommendations to the fans: If you’re going to be loud, you have to be loud when we’re huddling. Can’t just be loud once we break the

huddle. By that time, there’s no point. We hear the play. We communicated currently. However it was a good environment to play in. And I’m simply delighted now we were able to get a triumph.”Miami QB Cam Ward When the day began, over 90,000 fans filled the seats, but Ward silenced them with his escapability, smarts, and laser-like accuracy, throwing for 385 lawns– the most in a debut in program history– three touchdowns and one interception.Afterward, clearly irritated that a person of the biggest storylines entering the game was that the Canes never ever had actually played in an environment that loud before, Ward had a message for Gator fans.”I played at USC,”said Ward, who transferred to Miami from Washington State.”USC wasn’t packed, however it was louder than this. I played in Oregon, it was louder than this. The Pac-12 gets misspoken for. Some advice to the fans: If you’re going to be loud, you have to be loud when we’re huddling. Can’t just be loud once we break the huddle. By that time, there’s no point. We hear the play. We communicated currently. But it was a good atmosphere to play in. And I’m just thrilled now we were able to get a triumph.”Ward was among the greatest reasons that. His surprise arrival in January from the portal, after at first declaring for the NFL draft, served to buoy hopes that the Hurricanes could have a development season in Year 3 under Cristobal. Miami likewise signed other key players from

the website, including Damien Martinez, Tyler Baron and Meesh Powell, however Ward amassed all the attention after his standout spring performance.He revealed why now that the games actually count.” Yeah, he’s okay,” Cristobal stated with a smile during his postgame press conference.”All the things that you guys were most likely wondering throughout camp:’Guy, they talk a lot about Camera Ward. Is he actually that great? ‘He’s simply scratching the surface.

Actually accurate, improvised, extended plays.

Every group has a trigger plug. Every game has a trigger plug. He was the guy today. “There were a lot of highlight-reel plays, but maybe his best can be found in the 3rd quarter. Ward was displaced of the pocket and scrambled to his left. From there, he saw Jacolby George in the back of completion zone. Ward fired a pass and George captured it, tiptoeing to remain

in bounds for the 23-yard score.Editor’s Picks 2 Related “He is among the very best receivers in the scramble drill, and when you have a getting corps like that, you have a tight end court like us, it’s tough to play man and play zone, since eventually someone is going to break on the defense, “Ward stated.” We actually didn’t get a chance to get in our

bag like that as

an offense [like] we actually wished to. Routine plays win games, and that’s something that we did.”Was that touchdown pass to George really a routine play?”I’ve made plays like that before, so it’s a regular play to me,” Ward said. “Excellent catch by him. He was able to have excellent spatial awareness at the back of the end zone. “For the fifth time in his profession, Ward had 350 passing lawns while completing at least 70%of his passes. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the only 2 FBS quarterbacks with more such games given that 2022 are Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix.Florida rarely pushed him– just 9 times on 38 dropbacks. What unfolded looked and felt various, not just since of Ward but because of physical, dominant play up front.Cristobal, a former offensive lineman, has worked hard to construct the Hurricanes in the trenches and said, “We’re playing Miami football now.” Naturally, Miami fans have been filled with hope before following a big nonconference win that could possibly assist springboard a champion season. Even last year, Miami beat Texas A&M in Week 2 on the way to a 4-0 start. But a messed up kneel down versus Georgia Tech sent the Hurricanes reeling, and they ended up 7-6. Cristobal was not prepared to make any proclamations after Saturday, but the enormity of the win was not lost on him, either. Now, Miami needs to construct off it.” We’ve been working our butts off, “Cristobal said.” Getting a persuading win like that is fantastic, but the most important thing that we discussed was for the very first time in a long time, Miami’s had a possibility to play a big-time game to begin the season, and now we got to reveal we can deal with that success and go improve.

Today was a really, truly big step.”Or as Powell said, “This is just one game. We prepare to go 16 more.”